Chapter Four

To Catie, it felt as if an eternity had gone by. She had been sitting at the lake for what seemed like days, but was merely hours.

Catie sat for about an hour crying, but then it was as if she ran out of tears. She felt like crying, very much, actually, but she just couldn't bring herself to. There were so many things to cry about. It was like her life was falling apart at the seams: her sister hated her, after she pointed out that her father apparently felt the same way. It was as if nobody ever wanted to support her. Catie's father only wanted her to be normal, but she was way too far from that to even start wishing. She wanted to explain this to everyone. Harry was her best friend; why couldn't Catie talk to him about this? It was like George was the only one who understood.

George...

He had been on Catie's mind a lot, lately. It made Ron angry, what with his best friend being with his older brother all the time, but that didn't stop her at all; it had a lesser effect on George. There was just something about him that gave Catie confidence. The confidence to talk about things, things that she wouldn't have ever mentioned to anyone, not even herself. He even shared things with her, which was always surprising. Just two days ago, when Catie was speaking of some things her father says, George let a little slip, also. He didn't really mean to... or did he? This was the question that had been haunting Catie since it had been spoken. They were on no specific topic, but Catie mentioned that when a boy had kissed her for the first time, her father scolded her and grounded her for a month. George suddenly looked flustered when it was said, quietly replying that he'd never kissed a girl before. It was unexpected, and Catie often found herself wondering if he actually meant to let it out.

Was he implying something? she often questioned herself. His face was actually the one thing that stopped her from crying. She just thought about the things that he had been saying to her, weeks before: "The only one you need to ever impress is yourself." "You realize what you're doing is bad, right? I mean, sure it's okay to be upset, but... man! It's almost like you're ready to slip into depression!" "Next time I hear your dad say something horrid to you, he might find something a little... extra up his behind."

It was weird; Catie looked up at the moon when she thought about him, actually laughing. There were warm tears streaming down her face, and here she was laughing.

"Man, I must be crazy," Catie whispered to the darkness. She was now lying on her back, staring up at the stars and the moon. All of her worries seemed to drift away as she spotted out certain constellations she had seen in her sister's Astronomy textbook. Catie seemed to forget everything that had happened. She was so at peace, out in the woods, lying next to the lake, the small but pure light streaming through the trees. It was all so... real. So refreshing. Like nothing had even happened today...

"I'll say." The sudden voice in the darkness startled Catie, making her spring up from her trance.

The moonlight cast down upon Lizz's face, making her seem paler than she usually was. She gracefully walked over to Catie -more like danced, the way she was walking- and plopped herself down next to her best friend. Lizz stared deep into Catie's eyes, as if attempting to see right through her, into her thoughts, into her soul.

"Stop that!" hissed Catie after a few minutes of being studied by Lizz.

She merely chuckled in response. "My, aren't we cranky today?"

Catie scowled at her, not in the mood for crude remarks. Lizz rolled her eyes, starting again. "Jeezum, Catie. Don't have a cow! I just... well... knew that you were in a bad mood, and I wanted to cheer you up a bit before talking..."

Catie looked up in sudden interest. "What do you mean, 'knew'?"

"Well, Catie. Apparently I am the only one who remembers anything anymore." Lizz sighed before continuing. "We had a homework date, remember? For Hagrid's class? You were supposed to meet me in the library after lunch. I was going to walk with you there, instead, but I couldn't find you in the Great Hall with the others. I asked Harry about you, and he was just as baffled as I was. He said you got in an argument with Hermione, and neither of you had returned yet. Well, at least he hadn't seen you or Hermione yet. I walked back with him to the Gryffindor Common Room, and Harry said he would check and see if you were there. As soon as the Fat Lady opened the portrait, Hermione was waiting there, crying her eyes out on the step...

"She was really upset, Catie, but I didn't know why. Actually, I still don't. Harry immediately went inside when he saw Ron, Fred, and George behind her; they had all been trying to get the story out of her, but she only kept repeating, 'She hates me' over and over. Harry threw me an apologetic glance before he went inside to help the others... and then I was on my own. I figured I would wait in the Entrance Hall, but hours passed, and you still hadn't come in.

"Then Professor Lupin came inside, and I asked him if he'd seen you. The last time he saw you was when he said you ran over the bridge by the lake. He offered to escourt me out to go looking for you, but as soon as we got out, it started to get dark, and I guess he got sick or something..."

Lizz abruptly stopped, lost in thought. She caught Catie's questioning gaze, and continued. "See, we were in the forest, and it was very dark, and I forgot my wand on my bed in the haste of finding you. He didn't have his either, and we were smack dab in the midst of all the trees. Then the moon came out, and I heaved a sigh of relief, but it seemed to make him uncomfortable. He ran off, apologizing, leaving me wandering around. It looked as though he was going to puke."

Lizz shrugged in the darkness, her long, dark hair falling behind her shoulders, glistening in the evening light. Catie was still lost, though. How did Lizz manage to find her?

As if reading her mind, Lizz whispered, "You have no idea how frightened I was, Catie. I was left alone, surrounded by creatures; not to mention, there are Dementors on the loose! And I don't even have my wand. If anything came for me, I was so unprotected..." On cue, Catie reached for her pocket; her wand was missing, as well. Lizz didn't seem to notice her reaction, as she continued. "I merely kept walking, driving myself forward, determined to find someone. I don't even know how I did it; one minute I was stumbling in the darkness, the next I was standing behind you."

Lizz finished her story and looked over at Catie, whose eyes were full of sorrow and appologies. Catie abruptly pulled Lizz into a giant hug, and she laughed as she wrapped her arms around her best friend's back. "I'm so sorry for all of this trouble, Lizz! I was such an ass! I didn't think of anyone else... I just needed to-" She suddenly broke off, frozen solid.

Lizz shook out of her embrace, taking Catie by the shoulders. She opened her mouth, ready to speak, when she reazlied that her breath was not normal. Instead of coming out in a normal, rhythmic way, it was coming out in shuddering heaves; the air was becoming radically and noticeably cold. Lizz realized that now her breath was coming out in small, puffy clouds of white, and the water on the lake began to freeze.

"Catie..." Lizz whispered. She met Catie's eyes, but they were locked on something in the distance. Catie began to tremble uncontrollably; Lizz locked onto Catie's gaze again, but this time, she followed it. Catie was staring at something off in the distance, hidden behind the trees. Her pupils attempted to adjust to the darkness of the forest surrounding her, but she was too late.

Catie broke away from Lizz and hurriedly stood up, grabbing Lizz's hand and pulling her friend up at her side. Lizz was still confused as to what was happening, so Catie pointed to something approaching them from the shadows. Lizz followed her finger, searching the leaves for whatever was frightening her so. Then, she saw it. A hooded figure, floating towards them, was closing in, chilling the air around it. They needed to defend themselves.

"Catie! Wand!" Lizz urgently spoke, but Catie only shook her head, showing Lizz her empty pocket.

Lizz gasped in fear and worry as the Dementors began to close in on them. To the left was the lake, frozen solid. They obviously couldn't swim acrost it, and there was no way they could run acrost it without falling and dooming themselves. To the right, the forest stretched out for miles, and there was not a chance of finding the correct direction in the dark. And in the other directions, more and more Dementors were coming closer to Catie and Lizz...

Lizz grabbed Catie's hand, trying to make a run for it, but Catie stood there, rooted to the spot; she was too frightened to move.

The closest Dementor was only a foot away from them now. There was no chance of survival. Catie and Lizz both collapsed to the ground at the same time, lying next to each other on the cold, hard ground.

"Lizz..." Catie whispered hoarsely. "I... I should have never come here. I forgot about them. I was so stupid..."

"No! Catie, don't think that!" Lizz took Catie's hand in the dark, and gave her a comforting nod. Then it happened, all of it a big blur.

Two of the largest Dementors swooped down, the others falling behind. They went for Lizz first; the cloaked fiends bent down, each coming inches away from her lips, not producing The Kiss, but getting so close to it. They took parts of her soul each time they came down close enough.

The frozen legs Catie obtained from fear were thawing out, but not enough to make her start moving...

The largest -and strongest, judging by appearance- Dementor broke out of the pack, leading them, gliding towards Lizz. If it hadn't been the thought hovering in her that it was about to kill her best friend, Catie would have thought this a dark and mysterious ballet the way it moved.

It was far too close now; the hooded figure was nearly an inch from Lizz's lips. It's black cloak surrounded Lizz, licking her up like the way a fire eats up dry wood. She was barely noticeable against the dark dirt, but Catie knew she was there: Lizz's eyes were wide open in shock and fear, watching her demise come upon her. Her face was abnormally pale, which made her a beaken in the dark.

The fiend was closing in on her now. It would all be over in just a few seconds. Her best friend would be gone, gone forever. Never again would her and Catie wander through Hogwarts, finding ways to get back at Fred and George for something they had started. Never again would Catie see the twinkle in her eyes when they learned a new spell, or the excitement that leaked out of her voice whenever she said it. And worst off all, never again would Lizz's warm arms open to Catie, waiting to comfort her when it was needed. She would never smile her brilliant smile ever again; the world suddenly seemed less bright.

Realization crashed down upon Catie like a thousand waves lapping up the shoreline. She dove on top of Lizz with seconds to spare, grabbing her shoudlers, rolling both of themselves to the side and out of extreme peril.

Now what? Catie questioned. She didn't have enough time to think. Surely they would attack again, but how long could she keep this charade up? And Lizz's eyes were closing. God, they better open...

Catie flipped over, lying on her back, on top of Lizz; she would do whatever it took to save her friend. After all, this was her fault, wasn't it?

Catie was staring the gigantic group of Dementors in the face; there seemed to be more than there were before...

The one in front seemed to be staring right into Catie's eyes. If it HAD eyes... She was being hypnotized by the face that didn't exist, where it SHOULD be, and imagining what it would look like. She couldn't tear herself away from its gaze.

The next thing she knew, Catie was being lifted in the air, straight up from her shoulders. She was being brought up from the ground, and was suddenly sharply turned around, right into The Kiss of a Dementor...

Everything was going black. Catie could feel the cold seeping through her body, freezing her veins. While the ice trickled through her bloodstream, it seemed as though all of the good things left her. Her memories, her happiness, her hope. Catie was fading in and out, trying to balance on conscienceness. Then she saw it. A bright light. It was warm and soft against the cold that lingered through her. Catie began to walk to it -more like glide- and it felt so good against her chilled flesh...

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

Her world was swirling now; it felt like she was flying. More like falling, come to think of it. And then she was still. Still and warm. There was a soft cushion under her head, that smelt curiously like the forest. Where was Lizz? Was she okay? And where was Catie? Was she okay?

Catie's mind buzzed as she faded back into conscienceness. Her eyelids slowly fluttered open, and she stared into the eyes of her savior. She tried to say something, but she couldn't find her voice; he put a hand over her mouth, anyway, disbling her from speaking.

Catie strained against his hand, but eventually gave up; he was too strong, not to mention older. Se decided to look for Lizz instead.

Catie turned her gaze over, searching the ground for her friend. She realized that it was noticeably light out now... Catie looked up: it was morning. Sunrise, to be exact. How long had she been out of it? Probably long... it was still dark last time she could remember.

As Catie pondered, sweeping her eyes over the dirt floor, she finally saw her, still lying on the bank of the lake where Catie had rolled her to safety; she was much less pale than yesterday.

"You realize how idiotic this was, correct, Ms. Baxter?" Remus Lupin's voice was stern and strong as he lectured Catie; like she needed it. "Coming into the forest without wands, unprotected! Both of you!" He sighed, shaking his head in dissaproval.

Catie still couldn't find her voice. Remus seized the moment.

"You are lucky I came when I did. If I hadn't been out here..." He shook his head again, this time forcing the horrible thoughts out of his mind.

Catie was standing up now. Remus had put her down right before his lecture. She took this information and used it, wrapping her arms awkwardly around him, envoloping him in a hug. "Thank you," was all Catie could manage to choke out, but it was enough.

Remus looked down at her and smiled, just as surprised by her reaction as she was. He put his arms around her, and said, "Just, please. Don't let this happen again. Ever. Understood?"

Catie pulled away and nodded in responce. She ran over to Lizz the moment she left Remus' arms, taking Lizz in her own arms. She began to shake her gently, trying to lull her out of sleep. "Lizz, wake up!" she repeated over and over. Why wasn't she stirring?

"I'm afraid it won't be that easy." Remus was beside her again. Catie shook her head, blinking back tears, fighting them. Remus sat down next to her, putting his hand on her shoulder before continuing. "She hit her head pretty hard on that ice by the lake. She may have a concussion, but I can't be too sure. I would have taken her up the Hospital Wing already, but seeing as you were also out..." Remus abruptly dug into his pocket, pulling out a chunk of chocolate and handing it to Catie. "Here. You still seem pretty out of it. Eat this, and I can carry Lizz. I'll have Madame Pomfry look you over, also."

Catie obeyed, taking the chocolate silently from Remus, eyeing him as he picked up Lizz; her head lolled against his shoulder.

Remus gave an encouraging nod to Catie, and they began to walk up the path back towards Hogwarts.

"Proffesor..." Catie's sudden formality made Remus look up. "What exactly were you doing here? I mean... Lizz told me you ran off... Why?"

Remus looked deep into her eyes, debating whether or not to tell her the truth. He comtemplated for a few moments, but by the time he had come to a conclusion, he realized that they were no longer alone.

Up by the path, Harry Potter was standing there, panting; he had obviously been running.

He began running again as he noticed that it was Catie coming towards him. As soon as he reached her, Harry embraced her in a rib-cracking hug. "Bloody Hell, Catie! Where did you go?! One minute, you and Hermione are fighting, the next you've disappeared! I really ought to-" Harry broke off in sight of Catie's expression. He turned his head to look at Remus, when he noticed Lizz -unconscience- in his arms.

"Harry," Remus said, staring back into Harry's eyes. "Why don't you walk Catie back to the common room. I'll take Ms. Worthington here up to the Hospital Wing" -he turned his glance to Catie- "and have someone come and get you when she awakens. Right now, let her get her rest, as should you."

And with that, he was back off to the castle, leaving Harry and Catie alone on the path in the forest. Harry turned on his feet to get a better look at Catie. She was a mess: her hair was all tangled, matted with dirt on the side of her head. Her clothes were crooked and strewn with mud and sticks. It was like she had spent the entire night lying on the forest ground...

Harry then changed his gaze to meet Catie's eyes, trying to find what hid inside of them. There were so many emotions flickering to the surface: hurt, anger, fear...

Catie was observing Harry observe her. What was he doing? Should she come clean and really tell him what happened? Would he be worried? Mad? And, how could she tell him what she told Hermione?

Catie's thoughts were interupted when she realized that Harry had pulled her into a tight hug, wrapping both of his arms around her and laying his head on hers.

She was confused as to why he was acting like this, when she realized once again that her feelings had decieved her, while hot tears poured down her cheeks once again.

They stood like that for what felt like an eternity. Catie began to shake from what Harry thought was the cold; he put his jacket over her shoulders and pulled her closer.

"Harry," Catie whispered, her voice hoarse from crying so much in the past few days. Harry lifted his head, prepared to talk, but Catie kept her face buried in his shoulder while she continued. "I need to talk to you. About a lot. But... promise me something. Whatever you do, don't let go."

Harry took Catie's face in his hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs. "You never have to worry about that. Ever. I promise, for all of our lives, I will always be here for you."

So, Catie told her story to her one best friend, while the other was finally being treated in the Hospital Wing. Harry was carrying Catie in his arms, and when they approached a bench, he layed her down on it and sat next to her; she abrubtly started laughing.

Harry stared at her, obviously thinking she was suffering from a head injury, when Catie explained. "I was just thinking... Madame Pomfrey had seen a lot of us, hasn't she? If I was her, I would get a restraining order or something." Harry joined Catie in her laughter now, nodding his head in agreement. He grabbed Catie's hand and got up, walking towards the school.

"First, you are going to shower," Harry said sternly. He had obviously been rehearsing this. "Then, whether you want to or not, you are going to talk to Hermione while we wait for some news for Lizz," -he looked up at the sun, high in the sky now- "You should probably eat too. They should be serving lunch now..."

This time, it was Catie's turn to embrace Harry in a giant, bone-crushing hug. "Thank you," she whispered, once again burying her face in his shoulder.

Harry put his arms back around her. "Your welcome," -he grabbed her by the shoulders, looking her in the eyes- "Next time, you come to me first. I don't care what it is, I want you to talk to me." Hr turned her around, put his hand around her shoulders, and began to walk up to the school. "Best friends. No matter what."

Catie rested her head against his body, closing her eyes as he guided her up the path.

"No matter what..."